Ravelympics Update - Day 4

Up early and even managed to watch a little of the Men's 100m Synchronised Diving, while kitting of course. I started the Right Front, but only the garter stitch band at the bottom (5 rows)... more to follow

Ravelympics Update - Day 3

Wow, I'm storming ahead, with first sleeve complete, the second cast on and completed!!

So far... Back complete, 2 sleeves complete
to do.... Right front, left front and make up

So if I make this in time (& I'm not going to slow down and coast) then I have thoughts for the bonus item - Stacking cats by Mochi.... something for me for a change, well when I say me, what I really mean is starting off as mine, but will probably get hijacked by the kiddiewinks.

Ravelympics Update - Day 2

Day 2 of the Ravelympics Challenge and althoiugh is Saturday and usually a rubbish day for knitting, I did manage to complete the back and cast one the first sleeve.

Motoring along and if I keep this up then I'll be able to knit the bonus item(s)

Ravelympics... the cast on

I've decided that I really need to start and complete a project for Baby Sweeney, so rather than setting the Olympic challenge to complete the blanket, I want to start and finish a little jacket

Paton's have a cute little jacket called Glee, which has a simple cable design and false pockets.

Technically I should be casting on during the Opening Ceremony, but as it 1pm British time, was at work so I cast on the back and knitted the first 13cm once the children were in bed.

A good start and on track to finish on time or maybe even earlier

Pirate Cushion - half way!!

Wow... this is my first attempt at complex colour work from a template and I'm really pleased with it! I can't possibly show you the back, it needs some serious threading in, but hey its gonna be a cushion, so as long as the stitches are held firm, what does it really matter?

The back is in progress too, its gonna be a red border like the front, with blue and white stripes. On schedule for Glenn's Birthday... hope he will like it x

Pirate Cushion - photos at last

Here is the plan for the cushion - based on Zoe Mellor's Pirate Sweater - its only a few rows, but its a start and I love the colours

The start of the Pirate Cushion

I started the cushion, did all the calculations, well so I thought. With the border complete and the start of the colourwork, but 2 hours later I realised that I had positioned the motif in the wrong place, not accounting for a navy border at the sides too :( Well I have frogged it and re-calculated, but too tired now to start on it again. I usually frog at some point on a project, so hopefully this is the frog time over with.... fingers crossed

From Roam to Pirate cushion

Roam is offically on hold - not really happy about this, but needs must, I have so many other projects waiting in the wings that are more pressing. Its Glenn's birthday coming up and I want to make a Pirate skull & crossbones cushion, based on the pirate sweater in Zoe Mellor's "The Big Book of Kid's Knits". Its gonna be knitted in DK cotton in navy blue, red & white... very excited about getting it started cos I can't wait to see his face when he sees it!!

Well its cast on time, so more news and a picture once its started

Roam progress

Well Roam is in full flow now. The left front is complete and the right front is at least 6 inches long. I'm going to pledge to knit at least 10 rows each night to keep the progress going. Still got the two sleeves and hood to go, but it at least feels like I'm getting there now

Its working

Well the knitting pledge is working and progress has been made on baby blanket and Roam. I so want to finish Roam as the shape and texture are really showing through. I'm at the raglan sleeve bit now, so with the decreases ever 4 rows, it should mean that it moves faster. So which bit to do next, the other front or have a change and do a sleeve. Actually I could do the two sleeves simultaneously and get them over with.

Knitting pledge

So in an attempt to complete my projects before I start any more I have pledged to progress one of my projects by at least a couple of rows each night. I may have problems at the weekends, but I'm sure that I can make up for it in the week.

Roam Progress
Well it started tonight with 18 rows knitted on the Roam project, so now up to the armholes, so with the ragland sleeve, I should progress this quite quickly now.

Projects on the go

Well I have had to limit my WIP as I have the anoying habit of starting things, but not really so good at finishing as there are so many things I want to make!!

So, whats on the needles atm then?

Roam
Finally something for me, or it will be once it is finished - a hooded cardigan in moss stich with lovely shaping and a zip - so far I've done the back and most of one of the fronts. It seems to be taking an age, but can already appreciate that it will be well worth the wait.

Blanket
The sofa has arrived and so it really does need its blanket to be finished. Its getting there, as it can cover Oliver fully, but I really want it big enough so that I can snuggle under it while laid on the sofa enjoying a movie. However with the weather so hot as it is at the moment, a blanket is the last thing that I want to pick up and knit, so it may have to be sidelined until it cools down a little.

Baby Blanket
Well I have finally hit on an idea and actually cast on. I toyed with various ideas, but have decided to go with strippy as its so easy and I can add colours in at will. It have a green moss stitch boarder then blue, yellow, orange, green and purple stripes so far.

There are so many other things that I want to start like booties, and hats, but I really need to make headway on Roam and the blankets, so if I knit a little each night, even if it is only a couple of rows or so, they should make progress.

Knitting Olympics
Well I had better start planning for this soo to as it is not very far away. Rather than finishing an item I will probably allow myself to start something new. Booties are too easy as they are so quick to make, so I think it might be a little jumper or cardigan for the new little one

So whats happening...

Well I've been up to lots recently... started bead work again and made some lovely jewellery, charms mainly for Mum and MIL, which went down well as Mothers day presents.. sadly just realised that I did not get photos... silly Kellie. They were lampwork hearts with pretty flower designs within the glass and contrasting beads. I've got into the wire work with scrolls at the bottom of beads and like the idea of a collection of crystal and silver scrolls.

I've made a necklace and bracelet for myself in blue lampwork beads... Blue is not a colour that I usually choose for jewellery , but I was so taken by the colour and they would really cheer up a plain black top. Te necklace is suspended beads on a wire with silver spacer beads and anchored with crimps. The first time that I have done this, and I really enjoyed the effect and the speed at which I got a professional look, so I will be doing this style again. The bracelet is on silver wire and I made the hook and eye from the same piece, so this is new for me too.

I also made Glenn a couple of bracelets from wooden beads on fine elastic, but unfortunately I did not get a photo... I dunno I have a fab gadgety phone and I keep forgetting to use it!! Also as he works on very expensive cars and the beads are quite large, its getting annoying to wear, so I'll have to go back to the drawing board for that one. Oliver and Lily collared me to make some this evening, so Oliver made his own wooden bead one and Lily threaded random beads onto wire, which I finished into a fixed bracelet for her... pictures to follow...

I've been madly knitting the blanket of many strips ready for my new sofa, which should be arriving in the next 6 weeks or so. The picture shows a red one, but mine will be a chestnut colour in buffalo hide... I'm so excited and the children have been warned not to bounce or eat on it under pain of death. The blanket will be perfect to hide under during Doctor Who episodes. Not sure what cushions to have yet... think I'll wait until it arrives. I do quite fancy making cable cushions, but something tell me I will be a bit busy on the knitting front





BEST NEWS.........





I'm going to be an Aunty!!!! Being a Mum is one thing, but I've been looking forward to being able to spoil a niece or nephew for ages!! The children are beside themselves with excitement. Lily was amazed by the scan picture and can't believe that she was that small once... Its great they will have a proper cousin to play with... yes I'm excited if you have not already guessed... and so much knitting potential!!


So where do I start... blanket... booties.... cardigan.... hat.... gloves..... socks....teddy... it just goes on. I think that I will start with a blanket.... not sure if to do a woolly one or cotton, but definitely in bright colours rather than the traditional pastels. I have from now until about Bonfire night to get into production!! However I should really finish the stripy blanket and my Roam Hoodie first or they will get completely forgotten about!!

Wow what a long post, I'm sure there is more to ramble on about... aaah yes... Carnivorous plant!! Glenn and I have babies... in the shape of Venus Flytraps and Sarachineas.. check out our blog.. its in its infancy, but I'll be painstakingly photographing and cataloguing the collection very soon!!

OK that will do me for the mo, its great to be back in the blog mood x

More blanket news

The last blanket picture did not really do it justice as it has moved on considerabley, so this is a better one that I took this morning. There is a moss stitch boarder in black then strips of different depths in any DK that I can lay my hands on. there are two strands of constrasting 4 ply in places, fluffy wool, eyelash yarn, wool & acrylic, so I'll have to be careful when it comes to washing it! I have even tried colourwork with checks and stars... which came out really well. I think that it is about three quarters of the way through, so I can't wait to see how it is going to turn out.

Hearts & Blanket

Hearts for my hun... felted and a bit of fun!!

The Blanket started about 2 months ago now. this is a picture of it after a few days... it is considerably bigger now... more photos to come

Sock monsters

Yep.. I've been experimenting with sock monsters too.... hee hee

They are so easy to do and very addictive... the only thing was that I normally have black socks, so I had to go out an buy colourful ones!!!

Back... again

This needs some serious updating, so be prepared.....

Lily's Unicorn is finished... she called her Sheila!

& I made her a Faerie... called well... Faerie

Finally I have made myself something.... Fetching gloves which are so soft and have had some serious use this winter, so I'm really glad I put the time into them

ooh and this is Jack.. a pressie for Glenn. I even made up the pattern myself!! So cool.. the children wanted one too, so when I get round to it I'll have to do another one